About Mellissa

Author Archive | Mellissa

The Victorian Government have announced that they will be conducting a Royal Commission into mental health. At this initial stage, you, your co-workers and clients to contribute to the Terms of Reference Consultation either by completing the online survey or in writing. After this initial consultation there will be other opportunities for shaping the future of […]

Deterring people from spending too much time in public spaces through the use of design features is referred to as ‘hostile architecture’ and while it may not be promoted as such, it definitely rules out rough sleeping. You can read more about this alarming trend at 10 daily .

Staff from the Victorian Council of Social Services consulted with community sector representatives right across the state in order to present a collective picture of social issues in regional areas and the result of those round-table discussion can be read in the Voices of Victoria report.

In 2018 Australians were given a glimpse of the Gatwick Private Hotel in St Kilda on popular renovation series The Block. The Gatwick has been described by some as a flophouse, a hellhole even, and by others as providing an essential service for the disadvantaged. Shot over four years, Gatwick – The Last Chance Hotel chronicles the […]

Prior to the State election, the Labour party pledged the following as part of their election platform- Invest $209 million to build an additional 1,000 public housing properties over three years. Establish Victoria’s first LGBTI Homelessness Grants Program, in recognition of the fact LGBTI people are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness. For detailed information you […]

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) have just released Social housing as infrastructure:an investment pathway. The report suggests that Victoria needs to increase its social housing stock significantly and provides a detailed examination of the issues related to funding this type of infrastructure.

The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) have just launched an online, interactive map that shows the level of poverty in each location across Victoria. In addition VCOSS have also published a detailed observation report, that outlines the issues behind the data.